Combination dial lock



' May 4,1926. 1,583,402

R. C. LEWIS COMBINATION Dim; LOCK Filedbee. 2;, 1925 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 May 4 ,-1926.

R. c. LEwls v COMBINATION DIAL LOCK F'iied Dec. 5, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 4, 1926.

illustrating an embodiment of myinvenuni-ran stares PATENT. EFECE.

Roman C. LEWIS, or STAMFGRD, ConrinCrICUT, nssreivon TO YALE & TOWNEMALiU- FACTURING COMPANY, or straMr'oRn, CONNECTICUT.

COMBINATION DIAL LOCK.

Application filed December To all whom it may concern: 4

Be it known that I, ROLLIN C. LEWIS,

a citizen of the United States, andresident 1 of Stamford, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Dial Locks; and I do-hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in'the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements 7 in combination dial loc s and more particularly to means for changing the combination of the tumblers and for ascertain.-

of the tumblers may be easily changed with I out disturbing the lock' by dismemberment of any part thereof.

A further object -1s to provide simple means for re-setting the tumblers to unlocking position, in the event of failure to record or remember the combination.

YVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of parts as hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings; v Figure 1 is a rear face "VIGW KShOWIIlg the rear cap and disk or splder removed) tion;

Figure 2 is a similar view, with the rear cover plate and tumbling shifting jlever re: moved; p v Figure 3 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section;

Figure & is a view of the key; Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view showing the lock applied to a door;

' Figure 6 is a view ofone of the tumbler members;

Figure 7 is a view showing certain of mounted -of the sleeve 3."

a, 1925. Seria1No."73,006.

cam or tumbler;

of the tumbler cage, separated;

Figure 9'is' a view showing the casing the tumbler-shifting devices and the spindle F igure-Sisa view showing the two parts or curb, the inner tumbler members or centers and the Figure 10 is and resetting lever, and

Figure 11 isa separate view, in perspective, of the resetting lever. I

a plan view showing the fence sleeve on which latter are In the drawings, afragmentary part of v door is indicated at 1, and to the rear face of the same, the casing or curb 2 of the lock is secured, thelatter having a fence opening 2 A sleeve 3 enters the casing and has threaded connection with the front wall thereof. This sleeve passes through a suitable hole in the door and l. is threaded to receive nuts 4:, 5, between which the web of a dial ring or escutcheonG located on One endv of a. spindle 9 is screwed. or otherwise secured to the dial hub 8 and extends, through thje sleevefi; The rear end of said J spindle. terminates Within the casing 1 and is threaded to receive the'elongated hub 10 8O 8 mounted to turn in the'outerend portion of a spindle cam or tumbler '11, the latter being normally secured against rotation on saidspindle'by' means of a key 19., and said cam or tumbler 11 is made with a gating 13 to receive a finger on the fence, as hereinafter explained.

The rear end portion of the sleeve .3 which is disposed'within the casing 1 is made with an annular groove or recess which provides a mountlng on sald sleevefor the inner: members or centers 14 of a plurality of tumblers. Each of these tumblers includes outer annularftumbler members 15 having toothed inside portions to mesh with similar teeth on i the peripheries of the inner tumbler mem bers or centers 14, whereby the inner and outer tumbler members are normally interlocked and caused to rotate together, and the outer tumbler members 15 are provided with gatings 16 to receive the fence. The spindle tumbler 11 is cooperable with one of the inner tumbler members and the several tumbler members 14 are cooperable with each other in a manner to effect the setting of the tumblers when the dial is manipulated in accordance with a predetermined combination to align the tumbler gatings to receive the fence, but as these details do not constitute I latter is provided with an opening 19 to permit ELCCQSS'OfthG fence 20 to the tumbler gatings. The fence 20 is pivotally mounted at 21 and its hook-shaped end 22 is adapted to enter the tumbler gatings' 16, a portion of the hook-shaped part 22 being extended to form a finger 23 to enter the gating13 of the spindle tumbler 11. The tail portionof the fence 20 is heavier than the. hook-shaped portion 22, so that the latter is normally pressed lightly against the tumblers and when the gatings of the latter are not in alignment, the tail of the fence will be in the path of movement of the bolt member indicated at 24, and thus the bolt work will be locked. When thetumblers shall have been set by manipulation of the dial, so that their. gatings shall be properly positioned, the fence will move by gravity, the hookshaped portion 22 thereof entering the tumbler gatings and the tail portion of said fence dropping'out of the path of the bolt member 24, thus unlocking. the bolt-work and permitting the latterto be manually operated in the usual manner.

The tumbler cage 18 is mounted so that it may be-slid longitudinally within the casing 1 for the purpose of moving the tumbler members 15 out of intermeshing relation with the inner tumbler members or centers 14, when the combination is to be changed and for moving said tumbler members 15.to their normal positions in mesh with the in ner members 14 when the combination shall have been changed. The rear portion ofthe cage 18 is contracted somewhat in inside diameter and is provided with an interior screwthread 25 which receives the exteriorly threaded port-ion of a cage-moving member or annular nut 26. This member 26 is made with a tubular hub or sleeve 27 which passes freely through a hole in the back cover plate 1 of the casing 1 and said hubor sleeve is made with an annular series of notches 28 and an annular groove 29. A

to permit the lever to be passed over the lugs formed by the notches 28 of the hub or sleeve 27 and enterthe annular groove 29 of the latter. A ring or. disk 32 is located against the lever and is provided with laterally projecting lugs 33 which pass through certain of the notches 28 in the hub or sleeve 27 and enter certain of the notches 31 in the lever 30. The lever 30 is thusconnected with the cage-moving member 26- so that when said lever is moved, said member 36 will be turned to effect longitudnal movement of the cage 18 and the tumbler members 15 carried thereby. The'rear end of the tubular hub or sleeve 27 is closed by a cap 27 having threaded connection with the same. When the parts are in their normal positions, the cage-moving member 26 is prevented from rotation by means of a looking spring 34. This spring is provided at its respective ends with pins or projections 35 and 36, the former entering a socket 35 in a flange 3? of the'oage and the pin or projection 36 passing through a hole in said flange and entering a socket 36 in the threaded peripheral portion of the member 26.

The rear cover plate 1 is provided with two holes 38 for the accommodation of a twoarmed key 39, and for the same purpose, the cage 18 is provided with holes 40 at the top and bottom of the fence opening 19 of the cage,the holes 38 and 40 being so located that when the arms of the key is passed through them, said arms will also pass through aligned gatings 16 of the tumbler members 15 and retain said tubular members against being turned, said key also serving as guiding means for the cage when the latter is moved longitudinally. When the key is inserted, the end of the finger 23 of the fence may be resting against the peripheral face of the spindle cam or tumbler 11, and in order that the hook-shaped end of the fence may be moved outwardly when the key is inserted, the fence finger 23 is provided with a cam notch 41 which 1will be engaged by one of the arms of the It will be observedby reference to Fig. 2 that that portion of the locking spring which is adjacent to the pin or projection 36 at one end of said spring, passes across-one of the key holes 40 in the cage, and that the free ends of the arms of the key 39 are beveled as indicated at 42, Fig. 4. Now when the key is being inserted, the beveled end 42 of one of its arms will engage the locking spring and so move the same as to retract the pin or projection 36 from the-socket 36 in the cage-moving member 26, thus releasing the latter so that it may be turned.

When the dial shall have been properly manipulated to align the gatings of the tumbler 15, the operation of changing the combination may be proceeded with as follows:

are moved out of intermeshing relation to the inner tumbler members or centers 14; Normally, the arm of the lever 30 is disposed at one side of the key openings 88. The key having been inserted, the operator will turn the lever 30 so that its arm will be come disposed at the opposite side of the inserted key. During this movement of the lever, motion will be imparted'to the member 26 and, by reasonof the threaded connection of said memberwith the cage '18, the latter will be moved longitudinally Within the casing 1, carrying with it, the outer tumbler members out of mesh with the inner tumbler members or centers 14:.

The inner tumbler members or centers 14 may now be turned independently of the tumbler members 15, by manipulation of the dial. lhe combination may now be changed by turning the dial from number to number of the new combination, but care should be exercised not to make the final turn of the dial which would bring the gating of the spindle cam or tumbler into alignment with the gatings of the tumbler members 15, The lever 30 may now be swung back to normal position with its arm at the left of the key and'the latter then withdrawn. The lock is now reset and must be operated upon the new combination.

Provision'is also made to facilitate the resetting of the tumblers in the event offailure to record or to remember the new combination. To this end, a resetting lever 43is mounted on'the pivot pin 21 of the fence. This lever includes spacedarms 44C, and the forward endof the fence is made with a slot 45 forthe accommodation of one of said arms. This slot 45 1nay be formed with the use of a separate plate 46 riveted to the fence and extended to form thefence finger 23. The lever 43 is provided with two stepped cross bars 17 adapted to be made to engage the tumbler members 15, and a handle 48 is provided on said lever to facilitate its manipulation. The rear cover plate 1 may be provided with a notch 4-9 to receive the lever handle and thus permit the stepped cross bars to properly reach the tumbler members 15.

To pick up the combination, the operator will press the lever' l3 upward lightly and then turn the dial in the same manner as when setting up any combination. Upon turning the dial anti-clockwise, the lever will drop into the gating of the first tunr tumbler member 15, and then by turning the clockwise, the lever will pick up the second tumbler member 15, and then by turning the dial anti-clockwise, the lever will engage the third tumbler member 15. The resetting lever 43 will then be released and the dial turned clockwise to position the gating 13 of the spindle cam or tumbler 11, The lock may now be again reset to the desired comspindle,. and outer tumbler members normally having intermeshii'ig connection with said inner tumbler members, of a cage movable longitudlnally'ln the casing and provided with mountings for the outer tumbler members, and acage-moving member supported by the casing and'having threaded connection w th the cage to. effect longitudinal movement'ort' said cage to disconnect the outer from the inner tumbler members when said member is turned, saidmember being accessible outside the casing for manual operation.

2. In a combination lock, the combination I with a casing, a dial spindle, inner tumbler members operable by rotation of the dial spindle, and outer tumbler members normally having intermeshing connection with said inner tumbler members, of a cage movable longitudinally in the casing and pro-. vided with mountings for the outer tumbler members, a cage moving member sup-ported by the casing andhaving cooperative relation to the cage to eifect longitudinal movement of said cage to disconnect the outer from the inner tumbler members when said member is turned, said member being accessible for manual operation, and a lever outsidethe casing for. turning said cage-moving member. a

3.,In a combination lock, the combination with a casing, a dial spindle, inner tumbler members operable by rotation of the dial spindle, and outer tumbler members normally having intermeshing connection. with said .inner tumbler members, said outer tumbler members having gatings, of 1011-. gitudinally movable cage carrying the outer tumbler members, a cage-moving member carried by the casing and accessible from outside thereof for manual operation, said member having threaded connection with' said cage, and a. key insertable into the casing and adapted to pass through the gatings of the outer-tumbler members to hold the latter from turnin at. In a combination lock, the combination with a casing, a dial spmdle, innertumbler members operable by rotation of the dial' spindle, and outer tumbler members normally having intermeshing connection with said inner tumbler members, said outer tumbler members having gatings, of a longitudinally movable cage carrying the outer tumbler members, a cage-moving member carried by the casing and accessible from outside thereof for manual operation, said member having threaded connection with said cage, and a key insertable into the casing and adapted to pass through the gatings of the outer tumbler members to hold the latter from turning, said cage'also having holes for the passage of said key, whereby saidkey may serve as guide means for the cage when the latter is moved longitudinally.

5. In a combination lock, the combination with a casing, a dial spindle, inner tumbler members operable by rotation of the dial spindle, and outer tumbler members normally having intermeshing connection with said inner tumbler members, said outer tumbler members having gatings, of a longitudinally movable cage carrying the outer tumbler members, a cage-moving member carried by the casing and accessible from outside thereof for manual operation, said member having threaded connection with said cage, a key insertable into the casing and adapted to pass through the gatings of the outer tumbler members to hold the latter from turning, said cage also having holes for the passage of said key, whereby said key may serve as guide means for the cage when the latter is moved longitudinally, spring. actuated locking means for said cagemoving member, said locking means normally extending across a key opening in the cage and operable by insertion of the key tounlockcage-moving member from locked relation to the cage.

6. In a combination lock, the combination with a casing, a dial spindle, inner tumbler members operable by rotation of the dial spindle, and outer tumbler members normally having intermeshing connection with said inner tumbler members, said outer tumbler members having gatings, of a longitudinallymovable cage carrying the outer tumbler members, a cage-moving member carried by the casing and accessible from outside thereof for manual operation, said member having threaded connection with said cage, akey insertable into the casing and adapted to pass through the gatings of the outer tumbler members to hold the latter from turning, and a fence having a beveled portion to be engaged by the key to force the fence outwardly.

7'. In a combination lock, the combination with a casing including a rear cover plate, a dial spindle, inner tumbler members operable by rotation of the dial spindle, a longitudinally movable cage within said casing, outer tumbler members carried by said cage and normally having intermeshing connec tion with the inner tumbler members, said cage having interior screw threads, a cagemoving member entering the cage and having a threaded portion meshing with the threads in said cage, saidmember having a and notches of the hub to lock said lever to,

the hub of said cage-moving member.

8. In a combination lock, the combination witha casing, a dial, and a dial ring, of a sleeve entering said casing and'secured thereto, a nut threaded on said sleeve and engaging the dial ring, a spindlesecured to the dial and passing through said sleeve, a spin dle cam or tumbler secured to said spindle within the casing, inner tumbler members mounted on said sleeve and operable by the turning of the spindle and the cam or tumbler secured thereto, a cage longitudinally movable in the casing, outer tumbler members carried by said cage and normally having intermeshing connection with the inner tumbler members, and means for moving said cage longitudinally to move the outer tumbler members out of or into intermeshing connection with the inner tumbler members.

9. In a combination lock, the combination with a casing, a dial, a dial spindle, and tumblers having gatings, of a pivoted manually operable resetting lever having a stepped portion for cooperation with said tumblers to enter the tumbler gatings successively when the dial is manipulated and effect alignment of the gatings.

10. In a combination lock, the combination with a casing, a dial, a dial spindle and tum bler members, of a fence to enter gatings of the tumbler members, and a manually operable stepped resetting lever'associated with said fence and cooperable with the tumbler members to align their gatings when the dial is manipulated. Y

11. In a combination lock, the combination with a casing, a dial, inner tumbler members, operative connections between said tumbler members and the dial, and outer tumbler members normally having intermeshing connection with the inner tumbler members, of means for moving the outer tumbler members out of operative connection with the inner tumbler members whereby the combination of the tumblers may be changed said means being also operable to move said outer tumbler members into operative relation with the inner tumbler members, and a resetting device cooperable with said outer tumbler members to set their gatings when the dial is manipulated.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

ROLLIN O. LEWIS. 

